The solemn journey back to Polk County for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, whose life was tragically cut short, was marked by a touching show of respect from the law enforcement and firefighting community on Monday morning, Feb. 26.
The young girl’s body was escorted from the Harris County Forensics Center, where an autopsy was performed last week, to her hometown by dozens of law enforcement personnel, a somber caravan that stretched from Houston back to Polk County.
As the procession made its way through towns and past communities, it was greeted by an outpouring of support from various law enforcement agencies and firefighting teams, who had positioned themselves along the route to pay their respects to Audrii and show support for her grieving family.
In Cleveland, both Cleveland and Tarkington firefighters, together with the Pct. 5 Constable’s Office, took their places on the SH 105 bypass, standing in silent homage as the procession passed underneath them on US 59.
Precinct 6 deputy constables assisted by blocking an entrance ramp onto US 59, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted passage for the procession as it continued its journey towards its final destination.
Authorities have tied Audrii’s murder to Don Steven McDougal, 42, of Livingston, a man with a lengthy criminal history, including sexual crimes against children. McDougal was living in a camper trailer on the same property as Audrii’s family members on the 100 block of Lakeside Drive, Blanchard, Texas.
Audrii disappeared on Thursday, Feb. 15, and was reported as missing that afternoon after her family discovered that she had not gotten on her school bus and never arrived at school. Her disappearance sparked a widespread search that took investigators from Polk County to San Jacinto County near the Trinity River Dam spillway.
On Tuesday, Feb. 20, her body was discovered near the Trinity River Bridge where San Jacinto and Polk counties converge. An autopsy determined that she died as a result of “homicidal violence including blunt head trauma.”
Audrii’s death has not only brought the community together in mourning but has also sparked outrage and a call for change. There is a growing demand for stiffer laws targeting individuals convicted of sex crimes, highlighted by the circumstances surrounding the case against McDougal.
Beyond the anger and demand for justice, there’s a profound sense of loss and love being expressed for Audrii and other children who go missing each year.
As Audrii Cunningham’s family and the community of Polk County prepare to lay her to rest, there is a determination to ensure her legacy leads to positive change. Livingston ISD Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins announced last week that the Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship will be included in the Green & White Scholarship Ceremony held on May 7, 2024. Members of the Class of 2024 who have submitted a Green & White Scholarship application will be eligible for this scholarship.
“We will accept any donations to this scholarship fund through the Green and White Program. Audrii loved school, so what better way to honor her memory than to help a student further their education,” Hawkins said in a Facebook post.
Donations to the Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship may be made by mailing checks to Green & White Scholarship Fund-Audrii Cunningham, PO Box 1297, Livingston, TX 77351.
A private funeral service for Audrii will be held on Saturday, March 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Memorial contributions to remember Audrii can be made to Livingston VFW, 4951 US 190 W, Livingston, or Texas EquuSearch, P.O. Box 395, Dickinson, Texas, 77539.